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E. A. SPEER. AUTOMATIC -PIRE ALARM SYSTE M'.

. Patented July 2l, 1896. y

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(No Model.) E. A. SPEER. AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. ANo. 564,229. YPaen'edl July 21,1896.

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l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ILA. SPEER. AUTOMATIGFIRE ALARM SYSTEM.4

Patented JuIyIZl; 1896.A i

UNITED 'n STATES PATENT OEEICE EDWIN A. SPEER, OE TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOROF TI-IREE-FOURTHS TO JASPER P. COLLINS, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC VFI RE-ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 564,229, dated July 21,1896. Application filed May 3, 1895. Serial No. 547,976.. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:`

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. SPEER, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented a certainnew and useful Automatic Fire- Alarm and Signaling System, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In the use of automatic fire-alarms it is highly necessary that breaksof any wire or line, grounds or crosses of foreign Wires which tend todivert or disturb the circuits of electricity controlling the system,batteries which have run down or lost their strength, and otherderangement of any of the parts should at all times be immediatelysignaled and made known to the attendant; that this should be donewithout giving such alarm as will unnecessarily call out the iiredepartment; that in case of a break or derangement in the line thereshould be instant means at hand for temporarily maintaining protectionto the buildings in the circuit until the lines can be repaired, andthat the contrivances by which these results are attained should not inany manner interfere with the entire efficiency of the system in givingprompt and certain alarm in the case of actual iire. K

My invention relates to and its object is to provide means foraccomplishing the results above indicated.

To this end my invention consists in the devices and arrangement ofparts hereinafterl described and shown, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, made parthereof, in which- Figure l is aperspective view of my annunciator and circuit-breaker, hereinafterreferred to, shown with a transparent front and with the top and one endof its case removed; Fig. 2,' a diametrical sectional elevation of mythermostat, hereinafter referred to; Fig. 3, a plan view of thecontact-strips forming part of said thermostat; Fig. 4, a diagramillustrating the arrangement of electric wires, batteries, thermostats,circuit-breakers, annunciators, and signaling mechanism applicable to atwo-story building, as hereinafter specified; and Fig. 5, a sideelevation of transmitting or signaling instrument, in connection with adiagram showing switchboard,

wiring, and registers of a central receivingstation arranged accordingto my system.

Like numerals represent like parts throughout the drawings.

It should be understood that my system is designed to afford protectionto any number of buildings connected in series to a line-wire leadingout from the central receiving-station, following the circuit of thebuildings included in the system and running back to the central office,making a single Wire, both ends of which terminate as a loop at thecentral office.

In each of the buildings in the system is a series of tliermostats,suitably secured to the ceilings or walls of the building, andelectrically connected with a signaling instrument provided for eachbuilding in the system,

which signalinginstrument is connected with the line-wire abovementioned. The thermostats referred to are designed and constructed inconnection with the signaling instruments, to give the alarm when anundue degree of heatis present, or when a break or derangement of any ofthe lines or batteries takes place; also, to transmit a signal whichshall indicate the presence of dangerous heat or fire.

In my system every wire which may be called upon to perform any service,together with the thermostats above mentioned, are constantly in closedcircuit, so that the breaking of any line, the operation of anythermostat, or the undue disturbance of battery or current will, by theopening of the circuit, transmit such signal as will lead to immediateinvestigation and to any necessary correction or adjustment of the partat fault.

Referring to the drawings, l is an electric line or wire run in eachbuilding fromv batteries 2, leading through thermostats 3 and magnets 4of the annunciators and circuitbreakers, which magnets hold, normallyclosed, the drop or shutters 5 of the annunciator, indicating thelocation of the disturbance. Line lis also connected to one pole of thebattery 8, hereinafter referred to.

In the annunciator, 6 is the contact-point for making and breaking thefire-alarm circuit, presently to be described, and 6n is the levercarrying the armature 6b and controlling said contact 6.

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7 is a line in closed circuit with battery 8, leading through theannunciators e., binding-post 6C, contact-screw 6, and lever 6a) and themagnet 15 of the transmitting instrument. This line 7 is also loopedinto each one of the thermostats 3, but its closed circuit is normallydisconnected from the thermostats, except when this circuit is shuntedby the action of heat upon one or more of the thermostats. Line 7 isconnected to earth, as at 8f.

I do not limit my invention to any speciiic form of thermostat, as manymodifications of such instrument suitable to my purpose will obviouslysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art; but for illustration lhave shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a thermostat well adapted for use in thisconnection. This thermostat consists of a ring or frame 9, of somenonconducting substance, preferably of glazed porcelain, having aninwardly-projecting annular iiange, upon which is secured the rim of aconcavo-convex diaphragm 10, composed of suitable metal which is anelectrical conductor and which expands or contracts sensitively undervarying temperatures, such as zinc. This diaphragm carries on its innerconcave side an int-eriorly-screw-threaded socket-piece, into which isscrewed adjustable contact-piece 11, provided with a head, as shown inthe drawings. From one side of the interior of the ring 9 projects ametal strip or tongue 12, recessed at its inner eX- tremity to form atwo-pronged i'ork. The shank of screw 11 plays between these two prongswithout contact, but the screw is provided with a shoulder which isnormally in contact with the under side of the prongs of tongue or strip12. Frein the opposite side of the interior of ring 9 projects a likemetal strip or tongue 13, forked in like manner, and astride of but outof contact with the shank of screw 1l, the inner extremity of piece 13lying between the extremity of piece 12 and the head of the screw 11.After the contact-pieces 11, 12, and 13 are adjusted a disk or cap 14,)referably of glazed porcelain, is iitted into a iianged recess in theback of the ring 9, and while one side of the diaphragm is exposed theinterior of the thermostat is hermetieally sealed up, and is proofagainst moisture and dust. The diaphragm 10 and strip or tongue 12 areconnected with the wires of line 1, and this circuit is maintainednormally closed through the contact of the shoulder of the adjustablepiece 11 with the forked end of piece 12. Piece 13 is connected with thewire of line 7 and is normally out of contact with the screw 11.

In line 7 is magnet 15 (see Figs. 4 and 5) of the instrument, designedto transmit signals to the central olhce. This magnet, being in closedcircuit, constantly holds its armature 1t. This armature is attached todetent 17, which engages a stop on escapement-wheel18 in spring-actuatedclock-train 19, which drives the make-and-break signalwheel 20. Thiswheel is provided with the usual teeth or insulated portions and throughits contact-piece is normally in closed circuit with line-wire 21 andbattery 22, forming a metallic circuit embracing the central oiiice andthe various buildings designed to be protected. The detent andescapement, 17 and 18 more in detail, comprise the lever 1.7, fulcrumednear its middle, carrying armature 16 at one end and double-toothed dog17 at the other end. lUpon escapementwheel 18 are two stops 18 and 181.These stops are about one-quarter of the circumference of the wheelapart and are at different radial distances from the center of thewheel. The lever 17 is provided with a spring 17", which, when themagnet 15 lets go, pulls the outer end of the lever upward, throwing thedog` 17 a Iat the other end of the lever downward, releasing stop 18 andpermitting the escapement-wheel18 to make a quarter-revolution, when thedog engages stop 18", holding the wheel and its train fast. N ow, il themagnet pulls down the outer end of the lever the dog is lifted,releasing stop 18h, permitting the escapement-wheel to make'threequarters of a revolution, when the dog again engages stop 18a andagain holds the wheel and its train fast. During the quarter-revoutionof the escapement-wheel and its train, lthe prearranged signal istransmitted once and during the threequarters revolution which followsthe signal is repeated three times, the iirst signal being precautionaryor indicating derangement of the lines or apparatus, the second signalgiving the alarm of re.

Upon the same arbor which carries the make-and-break signal-wheel 2O isanother make-and-break wheel which rings an alarmbell in the usual wayin a local circuit. (See Fig. 5.) Upon the same arbor and electricallyconnected therewith is a third makeand-break wheel 20, having the usualteeth or insulated parts. The finger or contact piece 20", whichcooperates with the wheel 20, is connected with wire 23, which leads toearth. lt should be noted that make-andbreak wheel 2O is in normalconnection with its contact-piece, and is designed to transmit signalsby the breaking of its closed circuit 2l, and that make-and-break wheel20 is normally out of connection with its contactpiece and is intendedto transmit signals by the closing of its normally open circuit.

At the central office the terminals of line 21 are connected with aswitchboard or plug cut-out board, which, for illustration, may consistof metal plates, numbered from 24 to 31, inclusive, electricallyconnected by plugs 33. (See Fig. 5.) In circuit 21 at the central officeis magnet 34, which actuates the receivin g and recording instrum ent,(not shown in the drawings,) or a relay controlling the same. Thismagnet records or transmits signals by letting go its armature when thecircuit is broken. At the central station is IOO IIO

also magnet 34, connected to the plug cutout board and adapted to bethrown into circuit 21 23, but normally out of such circuit. This magnetalso actuates through a relay or otherwise a receiving and recordinginstrument, (not shown,) but its action is by attracting its armaturewhen its circuit is closed.

The operation of my device is as follows: Assuming that all the partsare properly adj usted and arranged in operative relation and that thecircuits in lines 1, 7, and 21 are closed, now if any thermostat in-thesystem be eX- posed to a temperature higher than the safety limit, towhich the instrument is adjusted, the resultant expansion of diaphragm10 moves the shoulder of screw 1l away from contact strip or tongue 12,breaking the contact between these two pieces, thus opening circuit 1.Magnet 4 of the annunciator, with which the thermostat is connected, nowloosens its hold upon its armature, and lever 6n is lifted by its springfrom contact-*point 6 in circuit 7, thus breaking this circuit. Magnet15 in circuit 7 in the transmitting instrument now let-s go of itsarmature 16, causing detent-lever 17 to swing, throwing downward dog 17which releases stop 18 upon the escapement-wheel 18. This wheel, drivenby its spring-actuated train, now makes a quarterrevolution, when stop18b is engaged by the dog 17 and the escapement-wheel and its train arebrought to a stop. During this partial revolution of the wheel 18 thetransmitting instrument has sent over line 21 its preconcerted signal,the breaks in line 21 being recorded or transmitted through a magnet orrelay 34 at the central oiiice. The single signal transmitted during thequarter-revolution of the wheel 18 to the attendant at the centralstation indicates undue heat at the point signaled from, or a break inthe lines at that point, or the running down of a battery, or some otherdisturbance of the electric current on one of the lines. At thisprecautionary signal an inspector is sent quickly to the point of'disturbance and the office attendants are on the alert for what mayfollow. Now if the heat at the thermostat continues to increase, thediaphragm 10 continues to expand,vcarrying with it its contactscrew 11,until finally the head of this screw comes in contact with spring ortongue 13, which is connected with line 7. It will be seenthat line 1and line 7 are now connected through the thermostat, and that the forceof both batteries 2 and8 are thrown into line 7, which sufiicientlyenergizes magnet 15 in the transmitting instrument to pull down itsarmature, throwing upward the detent 17, re

leasing stop 18b on escapement-Wheel 18, permittin g this wheel to makea three-quarter revolution, during which time the preconcerted signal istransmitted and repeated three times, giving to the central station thealarm of lire. An advantage of this arrangement and operation is thatif, after the first alarm, the ther-- mostat shall cool off so as torestore circuit 1 the closing of the drops or shutters 5 on theannunciator by hand, thus restoring contact 6, will not be sufficient tocause magnet 15, armature 16, detent 17, and escapement-wheel 18 to sendin the second alarm, indicating iire, and thus to vunnecessarily callout the fire department, for it will be seen that the spring 17 b,attached to the armature 16, may be adjusted at such tension thatwhilebattery 8 alone will hold the armature the united strength of thebatteries 2 and 8 will be necessary to draw down the armature after ithas once been released. It will also be seen that this united action ofthe two batteries can only be obtained through the shunt of thethermostat when contact-pieces 11 and 13 come together through theiniiuence of dangerous heat or when the switch 7 provided for testingthe circuits 1 and 7, is used to shunt the two lines together. The testby the switch here referred to is made by throwing out of circuit theswitch-arm, which is normally in circuit 1, thus causing the annunciatorand transmitter to act in the same manner as when circuit 1 is broken bythe separation of contact-pieces 11 and 12 of the thermostat, as abovedescribed. The switcharm is now thrown still farther and brought againsta contact-point in line 7, when the transmitter acts as ifcontact-pieces 11 and 13 in the thermostat had met, as above described.In practice these switches 7 n are located inside the transmitter-box,the door of which, when open, serves as an automatic switch toelectrically disconnect the transmitter from line 21, so that no falsealarms shall be sent to the receiving-station during the tests.

The grounding at one point of wire 7 by a branch, as at 8a, Fig. 4,serves as a safeguard against the crossing of foreign wires leading` toearth, as the short circuit th us formed would cause the magnet in theannunciator or transmitter to let go its armature, and thus to transmita cautionary signal, as above described..

The operation of my invention, thus far described, relates only to theworking and breaks or derangernent of the wiring or the apparatus insidethe buildings included in the system. Should a break occur on line 21outside of the buildings', this fact would be indicated by magnet 34 atthe central station letting go its armature without indicating anyparticular number or signal. Now, while the break is being located andrepaired the buildings may all be brought into temporary communicationwith the central station by connecting magnet 34 with earth, which may,for example, be accomplished as follows: Plugs connecting plates 25 and28 and plates 30 and 31 are removed and plates 24 and 25 and plates 28and 29 and plates 31 and 32 are electrically connected by plugs. Thecircuit is now from battery 22 through plates 28 and 29 to ground,

and from battery through plates 31 and 32,wire

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33, magnet or relay 34a, plates 27, 24, and 25, and the unbroken part ofline 2l to the transmitting instruments at the buildings on the line,and thence to earth. Then the plugs are arranged as above described,magnet 34E is out of circuit and inoperate, but magnet 3l is inopen-ground circuit and operates and registers when this circuit isclosed and opened, which is accomplished by the teeth of wheel 20 makingcontact with its piece 2Gb when the clock train of the transmittinginstrument is set in motion, as above described. Plug cut-out plate 2Gand its ground connection, Fig. 4, are designed simply to furnish meansfor testing the circuit of magnet 34:, and need not be furtherdescribed.

That I clailn as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. An automatic fire-alarm, comprising a circuit containing a relay andbattery and controlled by a two-point thermostat, a secondV circuitcontrolling an alarm, a battery in said Second circuit, and meanscontrolled by the second point oi' the thermostat for throwing thebatteries into combined action for sending the fire-alarm, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

2. An automatic fire-alarm, comprising a circuit containing a relay andbattery and controlled by a two-point thermostat, a second circuitcontaining a battery and controlling an alarm, means controlled by thefirst point of the thermostat for sending a preliminary signal, andmeans controlled by the second point of the thermostat for throwing thebatteries int-o combined action for sending the tire-alarm,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

A normally-closed circuit containing a battery, a magnet in said circuitwhose normally-attracted armature controls a detent which, in turn,controls an alarm, a spring adapted to retract said armature, anotherbattery, in combination with a two-point thermostat the opening of whichpermits the release of the armature, to send a preliminary signal, andthe further operation of which unites said two batteries, to againactuate said armature to send the lire-signal, substan tially as and forthe purpose specified.

4. In combination, a normally-closed circuit containing a two-pointthermostat and a relay, a second normally-closed circuit controlled bythe relay and containing an alarmcontroller, adapted to give apreliminary and a iire signal upon the actuation of the first and secondpoints of the thermostat respectively, thc arrangement of saidthermostat and circuits being such that the repeated operation of thefirst point of the thermostat shall, oi' itself, be insufficient toproduce a fire-alarm, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an automatic tire-alarm and signaling systeln, a series ofthermostats, one or more magnets controlling circuit-breakers, and ancircuit-breaker, and means in said thermostats for closing said lattercircuit independently of said circuit-breakers, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

G. In an automatic lire-alarm and signaling system, a series ofthermostats, one or more magnets controlling circuit-breakers, and anelectric conductor in normally-closed circuit with said thermostats andsaid magnets, in combination with an electrically-controlled signalinginstrument, an electric conductor in normally-closed circuit with saidsignaling instrument through the contact-pieces of said circuit-breaker,and means in said thermostats for shunting the currents of said formercircuit and said latter circuit together, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

7. Au automatic fire-alarm and signaling system, comprising a series ofthermostats, one or more circuit-breakers, an electric conductor innormally-closed circuit with said Thermostats and controlling saidcircuitbreaker, an electrically-eontrolled signaling in stru men t,anelectric cond uc tor in normallyclosed circuit with said signalininstrument, controlled by said circuit-breaker and connected with saidthermostats, a receiving or recording instrument, and an electric lineconnected and normally in closed circuit with said signaling instrumentand with said receiving or recording instrument, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

8. In an automatic fire-alarm and signaling System, a thermostatcomprising a frame or case, an expansible body, such as a concaveconvexdisk or diaphragm secured therein, composed of a conducting metal,anormallyclosed circuitincluding said diaphragm, an adjustablemake-and-break colltact-piece mounted upon, carried by and electricallyconnected with said diaphragm, two other contact-pieces in saidthermostat, one being in the norm ally-closed circuit with saiddiaphragm, the other being connected with another circuit, a batteryconnected with each of said circuits, the arrangement of the parts beingsuch that the initial expansion of? said diaphragm breaks saidnormallyclosed circuit, and the further expansion of said diaphragmelectrically connects said diaphragm with the other of said twocontactpieces, and throws said two batteries into combined action fortransmitting the {irealarm, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

EDlVIN A. SPEER.

In presence 0- FREDERICK L. GEDDEs, L. E. BRowN.

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